Separation apparatus and process



Oct. 30, 1928. 1,689,536

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Oct. 30; 1928. 1,689,536

A. R. SILVERSTON I SEPARATION APPARATUS AND PRGCESS Filed Nov. 15. 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet I5 anomtoz I 'i 1 ag i (lbtom'uf mu'zt 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Qvwwttoz Oct. 30, 1928.

A. R. SILVERSTON SEPARATION APPARATUS AND PROCESS Filed Nov. 15 1924 Q g av mn Oct. 30, 1928. 1,689,536 A. R. SILVERSTON SEPARATION APPARATUS AND rnocnss Filed Nov. 15, 1924 8 sheets-Sheet 6 Oct. 30, 1928. 1,689,536

' A. R. SILVERSTON SEPARATION APPARATUS AND PRQCESS Filed NOV. 15, 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 @wuemtoz -Oct. 0, 192& 1,689,538

A. R. SILVERSTON SEPARATION APPARATUS AND PROCESS Filed Nov. 15. 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 2 i i -5 N N 5 inventor f4. M421.

Patented Oct. 30, 1928.

UNITED STATES,

PA-TENT OFFICE.

.ANTHONY R. SILVERSTON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO COKE RECLAMATION CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SEPARATION APPARATUS AND PROCESS.

I Application filed November My invention relates to'separation processand apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for separating granular or crushed materials, such for example as for the separation of coke from clinkers, utilizing the principle of a flowing liquid and the different rates of gravitation through the liquid, of the ingredients of different specific gravities.

The objects of the invention are to provide durable and eflicient apparatus of the character described, to provide for considerable flexibility in the operation of the apparatus so as to readily adapt it for the separation of different kinds or characters of materials, and to so arrange and construct the apparatus that it may be mounted on a power-driven truck or vehicle to be transported to various places of use and there to be driven by the power unit of the vehicle.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating the two preferred embodiments of the invention.

The invention consists in the novel features, arrangements, construction and combination of parts hereinafter described in connection with said preferred embodiments thereof, and the invention will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the tank partly in section taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a detail vertical section on larger scale taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail taken on line 5 5 of Fig.4.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the tank taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 8 and 9 are fragmentary details of the means for adjusting control plates and locking the same in the desired position.

Figs. 10 and 11 are cross sectional views of a vibrating chute taken on lines 10-10 and 11-11 of Fig. 6.

Figs. 12 and 13 are details of modifications of a coke conveyor.

Figs. 14 and 15 are diagrammatic illustrations showing the apparatus adapted to a motor truck of conventional type, and show- 15, .1924. Serial No. 750,042.

ing some parts of the rotary sifter not shown in the other figures.

Figs. 16 and 17 are detail views on larger scale showing regulating mechanism applied to a rotary screen.

Apparatus for mechanical separation.

Referringto the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2.

1 is a supporting tower. Rotary crushers 2-2 are mounted on said tower and tracks 3-3 are mounted over said crushers and carry buckets 4-4 adapted to convey material to the crushers. Tracks 5-5 are arranged at a level lower than the Crushers. and buckets 6-6 are mounted thereon adapted to carry the crushed material to a separating and screening drum 7 which rotatably mounted on a sub-frame 8 (Figs. 16 and 17) at a slight inclination to the horizontal. The sub-frame 8 is pivotally mounted on the shaft 9 carried by supports 10-10 attached tothe frame 11' which is mounted on the supporting tower 1. Parallelogram link frames 12-12 are pivotally attached to the sides of the sub-frame 8 and frame 11 at their opposite upper and lower ends respectively. Screw nuts 13-13 and 13'-13' are pivotally attached to the opposite sides of the link frames 12-12 and are operatively connected by means of screws 14-14 on the. ends of which are bevel gears 15-15 in mesh with a second set of gears 16-16 carried by the shaft 17 which is mounted in suitable hearings on the end of sub-frame 8. A sprocket-18 is pinned to the shaft 17, and a chain 19 suitably operated is in engagement with this sprocket to permit of the rotation of the shaft 17 to thereby rotate gears 16-16, 15-15 and screws 14-14 to cause the screw nuts 13-13 and 13-13 to be moved together or apart respectively. It will be seen that as the respective nuts of the parallelogram frames 12 and 12 are moved together the lengths of the parallelogram frames along their major or vertical axes are increased and the inclination of the sub-frame 8 is increased with respect to the frame 11. Conversely when the screw nuts are moved apart this inclination is decreased.

A spout 20 (Figs. 1, 2 and 17) is provided adjacent the lower end of drum 7 for carrying away particles of material too coarse to pass through the coarsest mesh of the rotary drum 7 Beneath the screen a plurality of chutes 21 and 22 are provided, for keeping the particles of different sizes passing through the different perforations of the drum separated. The chute 21 conducts off the tines and chute 22 the coarser material. A conveyor belt 23 is positioned in the chute 22 and extends downwardly therewith into cooperative dumping alignment with a chute 24 (see also Fig. 6) provided with a screen bottom 25 and a delivery end portion 26 pro- .vided with a solid bottom. This chute is supported on pivoted links 27-27 attached to a stationary support 28, and is adapted to be shaken by means of link 29, lever 30, pitman 31 and eccentric 32 which is operated in a manner to be described later.

Apparatus for hydrodynamic separation.

A tank 33 (seeFigs. 3, 4 and 6) is provided for containing any suitable liquid such for example as water. This tank is enclosed on the four sides by the longitudinally extending side walls 34 and 35 and the end walls 36 and 37. For the sake of brevity in description the ends of the tank at 37 and 36 will be termed the front and the rear of the tank respectively. A partition 38 (Fig. 3) Y extends longitudinally of said tank and serves to divide the same into two passages which are in communication with each other around the ends of said partition 38. bottom of the tank adjacent the side 35 extends back from the end 37 4) horizontally to a point adjacent the'rear end of the partition 38 and then extends vertically downward a distance equal substantially to the depth of the end 37, and then continues horizontally to the end 36. The bottom of the tank adjacent the side 34 (Fig. 6) extends back from the frontend of the partition 38, extends vertically adistance equal substantially to the depth of the end 37 and then continues horizontally to a point midway longitudinally of said tank, then inclines rearwardly upwardly to a point adjacent the rear end of the partition, forming thereby the bottom portions of a central pocket, andthen follows the lines of the bottom adjacent the side 35. The partition 38 extends downwarlly and together with the side 34 forms the side walls of this pocket. It will therefore be seen that the front end of the tank forward of the partition, is of uniform depth for the entire width of the tank, and that the rear end of the tank rearward of the partition is of a much greater depththe entire width of the tank. This relatively deep rear portion of the tank acts as a sump.

and is provided for'collecting sediment. The front end of the central pocket formed between the side 34 and partition 38 extended downwardly, will be designated as 39; thebottom of the pocketas 40, and the rearwardly upwardly inclined portion as 41. The bottom of'the tank at its least depth will be The designated as 42.- A separating plate 43 is spaced slightly to the rear of the frontend 39 (Fig. 6) and arallel thereto. This plate 43 substantially ivides off the front of the cen tral pocket into a chamber which will be referred to hereinafter as 44. An inclined piece 45 (Fig.7) extends from the partition 38 at the upper part of this chamber downwardly to the junction of the bottom and the side wall 34. A chute 46, preferably of metal, is supported on the incline and passes through an opening in the wall 34, and thence into a pit which will berefe'rred to as 47, and is' constructed as follows:

Adjacent the central pocket'a wall isprovided, (see also Fig. 6) the lower part 48 of which is below the level of the said pocket; and three upright walls 49, 50 and 51 in cooperative relation thereto and together with the side wall 34 form a pit which is in communication with the central pocket of the tank through the said opening in the side wall 34. Suitable means is provided for causingthe liquid to flow in a predetermined direction as indicated bythe arrows (Figs. 3 and '4) such for example as the propeller or other suitable water propulsion means 52, mounted on a shaft 53 supported in bearings 54 and, 55 mounted respectively on thestand 56 and rear end 36 of the tank. A suitable guard frame 57 shields the propeller from injury, protects the operator from harm and prevents splashing.

Directing means such as deflector vanes 58, 59 and 60 extend vertically the depth of the forward end of the tank and extend trans- Versely across this portion of the tank in a curved path between the ends of the two longitudinal passages of the tank, and are adapted to direct the liquid current in an even flow around the front end of the partition 38 and also to prevent eddy currents m a vertical direction. Adjacent the down stream end of said vertical vanes a series of horizontal vanes, 61, 62 and 63 are mounted and extend across the passage between the side 34 and partition 38, for preventing eddy currents in ahorizontal direction. It will therefore be seen that gressively increasing widths from top to bottom of the tank. These. horizontal vanes are also preferably arranged with their. down stream edgesstaggered, the one at the greatest depth being positioned furthest down stream and the upper ones being progressively farther up stream. The reason for this will be made clear hereinafter.

Adjacent the downstream edge of the horizontal vanes 61, 62 and 63 adjustable liquid flow regulating plates 64, 65 and 66 (Figs. 7 and 6) are carried by the control rods 67, 68 and 69 pivotally supported in suitable bearings in the sides 34 and 35 and the partition 38. These control rods and regulating plates are each mounted respectively adjacent one of the stationary vanes 61,62 and 63. On the end of each of the rods 67, 68 and 69 is attached respectively a segmental gear rack such 'as 7070 and 70 (Figs. 8 and 9) and latch means such as pawls 7l71 and 71" are adapted to cooperate with the gear rods to lock the respective plates inany desired position. The ends of the control rods are each provided with square portions 727272 to accommodate a crank handle or wrench to allow for the proper individual adjustment of the plates.

The function of these plates 64, 65 and 66 will now be described in connection with the current actuating means, the partition 38, the vertical vanes 58, 59 and 60; and the horizontal vanes 61, 62 and 63.

The propeller or propulsion Wheel 52 causes the liquid to flow in a current stream; while the propeller in cooperation with partition 38, causes the fluid to flow in a continuous current stream around the partition. The

, vertical vanes 58, 59 and 60 straighten out the flow in a vertical direction and the horizontal plates 61, 62 and 63 straighten out the current in a horizontal direction. So that at a point adjacent the downstream edge of the vanes 61, 62 and 63 all parts of the current will flow in a stream of substantially constant velocity and parallel one with another throughout its entire cross section at this point, i. e. it will be sectionalized, avoiding eddies. swirls etc. Now by means of the adjustable plates 64, 65 and 66 this uniform current may be accurately controlled in a manner best adapted for the separation of the particular material being handled. In the separation of material such as results from combustion of coal in boiler furnaces and with the apparatus arranged as shown it is preferable to have the plates closedi. e. lowered-to an increasing degree from top to bottom with the top vane preferably entirely open, so that the current at the surface will move horizontally and with greater velocity, while the current at other depths omewhat directed downwardly and will move with progressively decreased velocity. With this adjustment of the vane-s the liquid will flow in degrees of greater downward inclination at progressively greater depths commencing just under the surface.

Con-veyor means for removing particles from tank.

Two conveyor means are provided for removing the materials after separation but it is obvious that as many as desirable may be .6, 7, and 1), provided with buckets 74, is

adapted to extend into the pit- 47 in a direction transversely to the current stream in the tank, for removal of the particles of relatively greater specific gravity. This conveyor is carried at its upper end by a pulley drum mounted on a suitable scaffold 76, (Fig. 1) and at its lower end by a pulley drum 77 mounted in the lower portion 48 of the pit 47 (Fig. 7) and is driven in a manner to be described hereinafter. The buckets 74 are adapted to pass adjacent the lower end of the chute 46: and shields 78-78 are arranged on each side of the chute 46 to guide the particles to the buckets.

A suitable conveyor such as the link belt 7 9 (Figs. 6, 12 and 13), provided with cleats 80,

is adapted to extend into the central pocket of the tank in a direction longitudinally of the current stream in the tank, for removal of the particles of relatively less specific gravity. This conveyor is carried at its upper end by a pulley or sprocket drum 81 (Fig. 1) mounted on a suitable framework 82 to positively enl gage the link belt, and at its lower end by a pulley drum 83 mounted in the lower portion of the central pocket of the tank and is driven in a manner which will be described hereinafter. The cleats are adapted to pass adjacent the collection chute 84 which is positioned adjacent the separating plate 43 to prevent the particles from falling between this plate and the conveyor passing over the pulley 83. Idle pulleys or rollers 8586 are supported on the end wall 36 to prevent the loaded upper flight and the lower flight of the conveyor from sagging at its mid-point.

Motive unit and driving train.

shaft 9 which drives the drum 7 by the following means :The shaft 9 (see Figs. 16 and 17) carries attached thereto by the pin 96 a bevel gear 97 in mesh with a bevel gear 98 carried by the shaft 99 on which are secured driving wheels 100 and 101. The drum 7 is provided with track portions 102 and 102 which rest on the wheels 100 and 101 and on the idle wheels (Fig. 14) and 101 respectively, in such a manner that as the wheels 100 and 101' are rotated by the mechanism hereinbefore described the drum will be rotated. The idle wheels 100 and 101' are carried on shaft 99' mounted on the side of the drum opposite and in a similar manner to the shaft 99.

The pulley 103 (Fig. 1) is attached to the power shaft'90 and is'adapted to drive the conveyor 23 through the belt 104 driving the pulley 105 which drives the belt 106, which in turn drives the pulley 107 attached directly to the pulley 108 which carries the conveyor 23. by the pulley 109.

The pulley 110 (see also Fig. 2) is attached to thepower shaft- 90 and adapted to drive the belt 111 which in turn drives the pulley 112 carried by the shaft 113 on which is mounted the eccentric 32 (Fig. 6) provided. for shaking the chute 24.

The two conveyors, for removing the separated particles from the liquid tank, and the propeller are driven by the pulley 114 which is secured to the other end of the power shaft 90. The pulley 114 drives a belt 115 which is guided around two idler pulleys 116116 and drives the pulley 117which is secured to the line shaft 118 running parallel to the tank and supported in bearings attached thereto. The shaft 118 carries a pulley 119 adapted to drive the belt 120, which operates the pulley 121 secured to the shaft 122 carrying a pinion gear 123, which is in mesh with a wheel gear 124 keyed to the shaft 125 Which carries the pulley 75, so that asthe shaft 118 rotates the pulley 75 is caused to rotate to thereby operate the conveyor 73 in the direction indicated. At. the extreme outer end of the shaft 118 a pulley 118 is mounted and the pulley is geared, through suitable connections, to the sprocket drum 81 carrying the link belt 79, and serves to drive the link belt from the shaft 118.

The line shaft 118 also carries a cone pulley 126 adapted to drive a jack shaft 127 by means of a cone pulley 128 and cooperating belt 129. The jack shaft 127 is thereby provided with a variable speed mechanism comprising the cone pulleys 126128 and the belt 129. The

1 jack shaft 127 carries a pulley 130 (Fig. 4)

which is adapted to furnish power to the propellershaft 53 by means of the belt 131 and pulley 132. In this manner a means is provided whereby the speed of the propeller may i be. varied at will by shifting the belt 129.

Modification.

In Figs. 14 and 15 the apparatus is shown somewhat diagrammatically, mounted on a truck and is adapted to move around from place to place. The mechanical and hydrodynamical separating units in this modifica:

tion are of the same general configuration The upper end of conveyor 23 is carried per 138, is'mounted to one side of and partly beneath the tank 134. The crusher is also provided with an outlet chute 139 adapted to deliver the crushed material into a hopper 140. A. suitable conveyor such as the belt and bucket conveyor 141 is adapted to carry the crushed material up to the grading or screening drum 142, which is mounted in a manner similar to that described hereinbefore and shown in Figs. 16, and 17. Suitable framework carried by the truck body 133 supports the various parts of the apparatus. A chute 143 is provided for carrying away the fines; a chute 144 is provided for conducting the material to be hydrodynamically separated to the tank 134 and a portion of the bottom of this chute is provided with a screen 144' to separate dust from the material immediately before it passes into the tank 134; anda chute 145 is'provided for carrying away the pieces too large to pass through the perforations or screen of the drum 142. The propulsion wheel 146 is provided for creating a current flow in the tank,.and aforesaid horizontal vanes 184184 and 184" and vertical vanes 185--185 and 185 are provided for straightening out the current flow. Adjustable plates 186186 and 186 are provided for controlling the directional current flow adjacent the delivery point of the material; all of which are formed in a manner similar to that described heretofore. A con- Y veyor .means such as 147 is provided for-re ranged adjacent thetank 135 and associated therewith as in the stationary apparatus hereinbefore described.

The motor 150 of the truck. is connected with the rear or traction wheels of the truck by means of the drive shaft 151 by any suitable means. The drive shaft 151 carries a worm 152 in mesh with a worm wheel 153 nected to a clutch lever 157. A chain 'to be en aged b axially thereon but normally free to rotate with respect thereto. The hub of the sprocket 158 is provided with teeth adapted cooperating teeth carried on the cl utch co lar, so that by moving the clutch lever 15? to the left (Fig. 15) the clutch collar engages the sprocket hub and causes the sprocket 158 to rotate with the shaft 154 thereby driving the chain 159 which engages the sprocket 160 pinned to the line shaft 161 to rotate the same. The shaft 161 is supported by suitable bearings attached to the tank' 134 and suit-able structural frameworkof the truck.

The propeller wheel 1.46 is driven from the shaft 161. The conveyor 147 is driven through suitable mechamsm such as sprocket 162, chain directly 163, and sprocket 164 carried by the shaft 165 which also carries theconveyor pulley sprocket drum 166 to positively drive the conveyor 147.

The conveyor 141 is also driven from the shaft 161 by means of the sprocket 167, the chain 168, and. the sprocket 169 on the hub of which is carried a spur gear 170 in mesh with a gear 171 mounted on a shaft 172 and which also carries the conveyor pulley or drum 173.

The rotary crusher is driven from the shaft 161 by'means of the sprocket 174 attached thereto and the chain 175 which engages the sprocket 176 carried on the shaft of the crusher 137.

The conveyor 148 is driven directly from the shaft 178 Fig. 14) which corresponds to the shaft 9 of Figs. 16 and 17. This shaft, 178 is adapted to be rotated by apulley 179 mounted thereon driven by a belt 180 in operative engagement with a pulley 181 mounted on and adapted to rotate with the line shaft 161.

The rotary drum 142, Fig. 15, (corresponding to the drum7 of Figs. 16'and 17) is driven from shaft 178 in a manner similar to that described in connection with Figs. 16 and 17 hereinbefore described in detail.

Operation of stationary apparatus.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 1; the motive means 87 is started and the movable parts of the apparatus are operated through the various power connection hereinbefore described. The adjustable plates in the tank are adjusted to the proper degree to suit the particular materialto be operated on, and

the degree of separation to be effected, and the propeller speed is adjusted to its proper drum .7 which separates the fines and extra large lumps from the material to be further separated according to its specific gravity. The fines pass out by means of .thechuto 21 (Fig. 17 and the extra large pieces ass out by means of-the chute 20 (Fig. 2') W lie the inaterialto be operated on to a further degree passes out by means of the chute 22 and is fed along by means of conveyor 23 which delivers it to the shaking screen 24 where the dust passes out through the grating 25 and the remaining material i: dumped into the tank at a point adjacent the adjustable plates 64, 65 and 66 (Fig.6)

and the surface of the current. The plates in this instance are shown adjusted at one suitable position for separating coke from slag the material to'be separated being the coke and other partially burnt material from a coal furnace. In this instance the upper fiapper plate, 64, is open entirely, the second plate, 65, is partially closed, and the lower plate 66 is preferably closed to a greater ex-- tent. It will therefore beseen that the cur-- rent stream at this point flows with great-- est velocity at or near the surface, and decreases in velocity at progressively greater depths. Also at this point the current flow is directed downwardly from a point beneath the'surface in increasing degrees at varying degrees of depth. The material of relatively less specific gravity, such as coke, will therefore be carried forward by the swiftly moving surface current and will follow a trajectory which will terminate on the conveyor 79, which will carry the coke out of the tank and deliver it at. a suitable collection point. The material of relatively greater specific gravity, such as clinkers, will due to its greater specific gravity, pass through the surface current, and this action will be augmented by the downwardly moving current; so that this material will pass down into the chamber 44. From the chamber 44 the clinkers pass out on the chute 46 (Fig. 7), through the opening in the side 34, into the pit 47; and the conveyor buckets It will of course be obvious, to those' skilled in the art, that the adjustable plates may be set in various positions best adapted to separate various materials composed of particles of varying degrees of specific gravity. The setting herein shown and described is merely one setting-deemed satisfactory for separating the particular material under treatment and it is to be understood that the invention is not to be so limited.

The sump formed adjacent the tank end 36 collects sediment from the flowing water which at this point loses much of its velocity due to its sudden change in direction of flow which causes the sediment to'settle out. A

adjacent thebottom of said sump and proes a means for draining and cleaning out" 'vu thesump.

. A second removable hand hole cover 183 1s provided in the bottom ortion of the central pocket of the tank for raining and cleaning out the pocket.

Operation of portable apparatus.

The material to be operated upon is dumped into the hopper 138 feeding it to the crusher 137 from whence it passes through the chute 139 into a hopper 140 and is. picked up by the conveyor 141 and delivered to the rotary drum 142 Where the fines and coarser material are passed out and the material to be separated passes through the chute 144 and is delivered to the'flowing liquid at a point downstream from the adjustable plates 184184'-184. The separated material is removed by the conveyors 147 and 148.

While by way of illustration I have described the invention in detail as illustrated in its preferred embodiment for the separation of coke from clinkers, I wish it understood that the apparatus is useful for separating various other substances; such for example as for separating metals from the crushed ore as mined, i. e. by crushing the rock containing ore and separating the metal and/or rock particles rich in metal, from the barren rock.

After understanding my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made in the arrangement, construction and combination of parts, and certain features omit:

ted according to the desired use of the apparatus, without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention, and I aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications within the scope of the mvention.

1. Apparatus for separating granular material composed of particles of different specific gravity, comprising a tank for containing liquid, means for causing the liquid in said tank to flow in a predetermined direction, a series of vanes in said tank for sectionalizing the body of flowing liquid to render. the direction of flow of the various portions of the stream more, uniform, a series of adjustable plates adjacent the downstream end of said vanes for deflecting the flow in a vertical direction; a chute for conveying said material to said tank at a point adjacent said plates, conveyor means extending transversely of said flow of liquid for removing the'particles of relatively greater specific gravity, and conveyor means extending longitudinallyof said flow of liquid for removing the-particles of relatively less specific gravity.

2. Apparatus for separating granular material composed of particles of diflz'erent spe-- cific gravity, comprising a tank for containing liquid, means for causing the liquid to flow in a predetermined direction, a vane in said tank for sectionalizing the body of flowing liquid to render the direction of flow of the various portions of the stream more uniform, an angularly adjustable plate within the liquid flow and mounted adjacent the downstream end of said vane for controlling the direction of flow, a chute for conveying the material to said tank, conveyor means for removing the particles of relatively greater specific gravity, and conveyor means for removing the particles of relatively less specific gravity;

3. Apparatus for separating granular material composed of particles of different specific gravity comprising a tank for containing liquid, means for causing. the liquid to flow in a predetermined direction, a substantially vertical vane in said tank for scctionalizing the body of flowing liquid to render the direction of flow of the various portions of the stream more uniform, a vertically adj ustably pivoted plate adjacent the downstream end of said vane for deflecting the flow, delivery means for conveying the material to said tank, conveyor means for removing the particles of relatively greater specific gravity, and conveyor means for removing the particles of relatively less specific gravity.

4. Apparatus for separating granular material composed of particles of different specific gravity, comprising a tank for containing liquid, means for causing the liquid to flow at a given rate in a predetermined general direction within said tank, angularly adj ustable means for controlling the specific direction of a part of said liquid flow while the rate of flow remains constant, delivery means for conveying the material to said tank and adapted to deliver the material to the liquid flow at a point downstream from said adj ust able means, and means for conveying away the material separated by said liquid stream.

5. Apparatus for separating granular material composed of particles of different specific gravity, comprising a tank for containing liquid, means for causing the liquid to flow in a predetermined direction, a substantially vertical vane in said tank for sectionalizing the body of flowing'liquid to render the direction of flow of the various portions of the stream more uniform, a substantially horizontal vane adjacent the downstream end of said vertical vane, a horizontally disposed verticallyadjustable plate supported adjacent said horizontal vane for deflecting the flow, delivery means for conveying the material to said tank.

conveyor means for removing the particles of relatively greater specific gravity, and conveyor means for removing the particles of relatively less specific gravity.

6. In apparatus for separating granular 7 different depths in said tank, at a point adj a material composed of particles of different specific gravity, the combination ofja tank for containing liquid, a partitionwithin said tank, means in cooperative relation with said partition for causing the liquid in said tank l low in opposite directions on opposite sides of said partition thereby forming a continuous current stream, vertical directing means adapted to see'tionalize and deflect said current in a more uniform flow around one end of said partition to prevent eddies in a substantially horizontal plane, substantially horizontal directing means adapted to prevent eddies in a substantially vertical plane, means for deflecting said current downwardly in (ii I'- ferent degrees of inclination throughout the depth of said tank, means for delivering said material to the stream after the latter has been so directed and means for removing the separated materials from said liquid.

7. In apparatus for separating granular material composed of particles of different specific gravity, the combination of a tank for containing liquid, means adapted to cause a current flow in said tank in a predetermined direction, delivery means adapted to convey granular material composed of particles of different specific gravity to said tank, means for deflecting portions of said current downwardly in different degrees of inclination at cent the discharge end of said de'livery means.

8. In apparatus for separating granular material composed of particles of' different specific gravity, the combination of a tank for containing liquid, means adapted to cause a current flow in said tank in a predetermined direction, delivery means adapted to convey granular material composed of particles of different specific gravity to said tank, means for deflecting portions of said current downwardly in different degrees of inclination at different depths insaid tank, said deflecting means being adjacent to and on the upstream side of the point of delivery of the material from said delivery means. 9. Apparatus for separating granular material composed of particles of different specific gravity, comprising a tank for containing liquid, a partition extending longitudinally of said tank, means for causing said liquid to flow in a predetermined direct-ion, means for directing liquid from one side of said partition to the other and for preventing eddy currents in said liquid, deflectors for causing said liquid to flow in vertically diverging directions at different depths, delivery means terminating on the downstream side of said deflector and above the surface of the liquid for delivering the material to be separated, a pit in communication with said tank adjacent to and at a level below said deflector, a first conveyor means for removing material of relatively greater specific gravity from said pit, and a second conveyor means for removing material of relatively less specific gravity from said tank.

10. Apparatus for separating granular material composed of particles of different specific gravity, comprising a tank for con taining liquid, a partition extending longi tudinally of said tank, means for causing said liquid to flow 1n a predetermined direction,

means for directing liquid from one side of said partition to the other and for preventing eddy currents in said liquid, a deflector for causing said liquid to flow in vertically diverging directions at difl'crcnt depths, dclivery means terminating adjacent said plate and above the surface of the liquid for delivering the material to be separated, transfer means for carrying said granular material to said flowing liquid, apit 1n communication with said tank adjacent to and at a level below said deflector, a first'conveyor means for removing material of relatively greater liquidto flow in a predetermined stream di-' rection, means for directing liquid from one side of said partition to the other and for preventing lateral eddy currents in said liquid,

deflector means adapted angularly and partially to obstruct the stream, for causing said liquid to flow at varying velocities at different depths in said stream, means adapted to deliver material to be separated adjacent said varying flowv and the surface of the liquid, a pit in communication with said tank adj acent to and at a level below said varying flow,

a first conveyor means for removing material of relatively-less specific gravity from said tank.

12. In apparatus for separating granular material composed of particles of different specific gravity, the combination of a tank for containing flowing liquid and provided wlth a central'pocket, a first conveyor means extending from said pocket below the liquid level, for conveying particles from the liquid in said pocket, a pit in communication With said tank through an opening below the liquid level and of greater depth than that of said pocket, a chute adjacent said opening adapted to direct particles from said tank into said pit by gravity, and conveyor means extendmg from below the liquid level in said pit to an exterior point for conveying particles from said pit.

13. The method of separating granular material composed of particles of different specific gravity which consists in delivering said material so treated to a body of water adcurrent flow will be greater at the surface and progressively less at greater depths adjacent the point of delivery of said material whereby acent the surface thereof, causingsaid water said material will be separated into a plurality of groups according to specific gravity. and removing each group separately frorn said liquid.

In testimony whereof I have signed mv name to this specification.

ANTHONY R. SILVERSTON. 

